Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
  • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
  • H01R13/62955—Pivoting lever comprising supplementary/additional locking means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
  • H01R13/641—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
  • H01R13/5804—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable comprising a separate cable clamping part
  • H01R13/5812—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable comprising a separate cable clamping part the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
  • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
  • H01R13/62944—Pivoting lever comprising gear teeth
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
  • H01R2201/26—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for vehicles

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to connectors, and more particularly to a lever mated connector assembly having a connector position assurance (“CPA”) device for preventing movement of the connector assembly lever out of a locked position.
• CPA connector position assurance
• electrical connectors must be securely mated to one another to prevent disconnection of the electrical signals routed through the connector conductors.
• safety equipment such as air bag deployment systems or other systems relating to the operational or safety features of the vehicle
• disconnection of the electrical signals as a result of accident, negligence, or operating conditions such as vibration, etc. may result in undesirable consequences.
• some electrical connectors are coupled to connector assemblies that mechanically lock the electrical connectors in mating engagement with one another.
• Some conventional connector assemblies include a housing that houses an electrical connector, a wire guide attached to the housing and enclosing the electrical connector, and a lever that couples the housing to a header housing a mating electrical connector. When in a locked position, the lever prevents disconnection of the housing from the header, which prevents disconnection of the mated electrical connectors. Some levers are further configured to latch into engagement with the wire guide when the lever is in the locked position to ensure that the lever is not unintentionally moved out of the locked position. However, the problem is that if sufficient force is applied to such levers, they may disengage from the wire guide and permit disconnection of the mated electrical connectors.
• a lever mated connector assembly of the present invention that includes a CPA device for preventing unintentional movement of the lever from its locked position, even if substantial force is applied to the lever.
• the connector assembly includes a housing configured to mate with a header and house an electrical connector that mates with an electrical connector housed by the header.
• the connector assembly further includes a wire guide mounted to the housing that includes a latch with a retaining surface, and a lever with a catch having a retaining surface that engages the latch retaining surface to inhibit movement of the lever out of a locked position.
• the connector assembly includes a CPA device having a locking surface. The CPA device is mounted to the wire guide for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the locking surface inhibits movement of the latch, thereby further inhibiting movement of the lever out of the locked position.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lever mated connector assembly according to the present invention depicting the lever in an unlocked position;
• Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a wire guide of the lever mated connector assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 4A is a rear elevation view of the wire guide of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 4B is a partially fragmented, cross- sectional view taken substantially along line 4B-4B of Figure 4A;
• Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a CPA device of the lever mated connector assembly of Figure 1;
• Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of a lever of the lever mated connector assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 9A is a top plan view of the lever of Figures 7 and 8;
• Figure 9B is a rear elevation view of the lever of Figures 7 and 8;
• Figure 9C is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 9C-9C of Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of a lever mated connector assembly according to the present invention, depicting the lever in a locked position;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view similar to Figure 10, depicting the CPA device in a locked position
• Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of Figure 11.
• FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of Figure 11.
• the connector assembly includes a wire guide 10, a CPA device 12 coupled to wire guide 10, and a lever 14 coupled to a housing 16 and configured for cooperation with wire guide 10 and CPA device 12.
• wire guide 10 mates with housing 16, and lever 14 is used to mate the connector assembly with a header 17.
• wire guide 10 generally includes a pair of side walls 18, 20, a rear wall 22, and an upper wall 24, together forming an interior space 26.
• Side wall 18 includes a rear protrusion 28 and a tab 30 defined on side wall 18 by a pair of notches 32, 34 that permit tab 30 to deflect slightly inwardly toward interior space 26 upon mating of wire guide 10 with housing 16 as is further described below.
• Tab 30 includes a cam surface 36 and a shoulder 38 for engaging housing 16.
• Side wall 20 similarly includes a rear protrusion 40 and a tab 42 defined by a pair of notches 44, 46 and including a cam surface 43 and a shoulder 45.
• Upper wall 24 generally includes a CPA device receiving portion 48, a lever retaining portion 50, and a wire shroud 52.
• CPA device receiving portion 48 includes a substantially flat wall 54 including a retaining wedge 56 defined by a cut-out 58.
• Wedge 56 includes a cam surface 60, an upper surface 62, and a retaining surface 64, and flexibly extends from wall 54 such that pressure on cam surface 60 causes wedge 56 to flex inwardly toward interior space 26.
• One edge 66 ( Figure 4A) of wall 54 cooperates with side wall 18 and a ridge 68 extending inwardly from side wall 18 toward side wall 20 to form a channel 70 for receiving CPA device 12 as is further described below.
• an opposite edge 72 ( Figures 2 and 4A) of wall 54 cooperates with side wall 20 and a ridge 74 extending inwardly from side wall 20 toward side wall 18 to form a channel 76 for receiving CPA device 12.
• a distal edge 78 of wall 54 forms an opening 80 with side walls 18, 20 and lever retaining portion 50 for receiving a portion of CPA device 12 as is further described below.
• Lever retaining portion 50 includes a pair of flats 82, 84 and a cantilever latch 86 positioned between flats 82, 84 and defined by a pair of cut-outs 88, 90.
• Latch 86 includes a cam surface 92, an upper surface 94, and a retaining surface 96.
• a pair of recesses 98, 100 are formed in lever retaining portion 50 to receive retaining wedges extending from CPA device 12 as is further described below.
• a distal edge 102 of lever retaining portion 50 transitions to wire shroud 52.
• Wire shroud 52 includes a pair of side walls 103, 104 and an upper wall 106, which together form an opening 108 for receiving wires (not shown) .
• a tab 110 is formed on upper wall 106, and similar tabs 112, 114 are formed on wire shroud side walls 102, 104, respectively, to permit the user to attach a cable tie or wire clamp.
• CPA device 12 generally includes a body 116 having a pair of arms 118, 120.
• Body 116 includes a base portion 122 and an extension 123.
• Base portion 122 includes an upper wall 124, a pair of side walls 126, 128, a rear wall 130, and a lower wall 132, which together define an interior space 134.
• Lower wall 132 extends laterally from side walls 126, 128 to form rails 131, 133 which are respectively received by channels 70, 68 ( Figure 4B) of CPA device receiving portion 48 as is further described below.
• Upper wall 124 includes a push ridge 135 that projects upwardly relative to interior space 134 and is configured to permit a user to move CPA device 12 between a locked position and an unlocked position as is further described below.
• extension 123 of body 116 is substantially separated from arms 118, 120 by a pair of cut-outs 136, 138. As such, arms 118, 120 may flex slightly relative to body 116.
• Extension 123 includes a pair of side walls 142, 144, an upper surface 146, and a lower surface 148. Extending between side walls 142, 144 of extension 123 adjacent lower surface 148 is a retaining wall 150 including a retaining surface 152, a transition surface 154, and a cam surface 156.
• opposite cam surface 156 of lower surface 148 is a recess 158 having a locking surface 160 formed on upper surface 146 of extension 123. As is further described below, locking surface 160 cooperates with lever retaining portion 50 to prevent movement of lever 14 out of its locked position.
• Arm 118 of CPA device 12 includes a retaining wedge 162 having a cam surface 164 and a forward surface 166.
• arm 120 includes a retaining wedge 168 having a cam surface 170 and a forward surface 172.
• lever 14 generally includes a handle 161 and a pair of support arms 163, 165 extending substantially perpendicularly from handle 161.
• Handle 161 includes a forward edge 167, a rearward edge 169, an upper surface 171, and a lower surface 173.
• a pair of cams 174, 176 extend downwardly from lower surface 173 to engage and deflect CPA device arms 120, 118, respectively, when lever 14 is in its locked position as is further described below.
• Lower surface 173 further includes a catch 178 having a cam surface 180 ( Figure 9C) and a retaining surface 182 for cooperating with retaining surface 96 of cantilever latch 86 to retain lever 14 in its locked position as is further described below.
• Support arm 163 of lever 14 includes an inwardly projecting lug 184 that is received by a recess (not shown) formed in housing 16.
• Support arm 165 also includes an inwardly projecting lug 186 that is received by a recess (not shown) formed in housing 16.
• Lugs 184, 186 oppose one another and are movably received by their respective recesses, thereby permitting rotational movement of latch 14 between the unlocked position of Figure 1 and the locked position of Figures 10 through 12.
• Support arm 163 further includes a curved gear 185, and support arm 163 includes a similar, opposed gear 187. As is further described below, gears 185, 187 engage corresponding grooves (not shown) formed in header 17 to draw the connector assembly (i.e., wire guide 10, CPA device 12, lever 14, and housing 16) toward header 17 to provide the high mating force needed to facilitate electrical connection between a connector component disposed in housing 16 and a mating connector component disposed in header 17.
• the connector assembly i.e., wire guide 10, CPA device 12, lever 14, and housing 16
• Lever 14 is installed by flexing support arms 162, 164 slightly away from one another and positioning lugs 184, 186 into respective recesses (not shown) formed in housing 16.
• lugs 184, 186 move into the recesses of housing 16 and gears 185, 187 of support arms 162, 164 mate with corresponding grooves (not shown) formed in header 17.
• CPA device 12 may be fitted onto wire guide 10 before wire guide 10 is mated with housing 16 or after. In either case, CPA device 12 is slid into CPA device receiving portion 48 of wire guide 10. More specifically, base portion 122 of CPA device 12 is slid over flat wall 54 of CPA device receiving portion 48 such that rails 131, 133 of lower wall 132 move into respective channels 70, 76 of CPA device receiving portion 48 and arms 118, 120 of CPA device 12 move toward opening 80 of wire guide 10.
• the connector assembly is fitted onto header 17. More specifically, housing 16 is placed over header 17 such that electrical connector 189 is in alignment with a mating connector disposed within header 17, but firm electrical connection between the connector components is not yet established.
• This configuration is shown in Figure 1.
• the user applies pressure to handle 161 of lever 14 to pivot lever 14 in the direction of arrow 210 of Figure 1 out of its unlocked position.
• This movement of lever 14 causes support arms 163, 165 to pivot about lugs 184, 186 within the recesses (not shown) formed in housing 16.
• the pivotal movement of lever 14 further causes gears 185, 187 of support arms 163, 165 to move within corresponding grooves (not shown) formed in header 17.
• gears 185, 187 move within the grooves, lever 14 draws housing 16 (and wire guide 10) toward header 17, thereby causing electrical connector 189 in housing 16 to securely mate with the connector disposed in header 17.
• cam surface 180 of catch 178 engages cam surface 92 of cantilever latch 86 ( Figure 2) formed on lever retaining portion 50 of wire guide 10.
• catch 178 causes cantilever latch 86 to deflect downwardly toward interior space 26 as catch 178 passes over cantilever latch 86.
• cantilever latch 86 returns to its initial position.
• lever 14 is inhibited from being moved out of its locked position because reverse rotation of lever 14 causes retaining surface 182 of catch 178 to engage retaining surface 96 of cantilever latch 86. This constitutes a first mechanical lock of lever 14 in its locked position.
• cams 174, 176 of lever 14 engage cam surfaces 164, 170 of retaining wedges 162, 168 formed at the ends of CPA device arms 118, 120, respectively.
• This engagement causes arms 118, 120 to flex downwardly, such that forward surfaces 166, 172 of retaining wedges 162, 168 clear the lower edges of flats 82, 84 of lever retaining portion 50.
• CPA device 12 may be moved farther forward into opening 80 as described below.

Landscapes

• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36637016

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (54)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2005
  • 2005-03-15 US US11/080,736 patent/US7175451B2/en active Active
• 2006
  • 2006-03-13 EP EP06738133.5A patent/EP1859513B2/en active Active
  • 2006-03-13 KR KR1020077020765A patent/KR100946917B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2006-03-13 DE DE602006020253T patent/DE602006020253D1/de active Active
  • 2006-03-13 MX MX2007011379A patent/MX2007011379A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2006-03-13 CA CA2600554A patent/CA2600554C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-03-13 CN CN2006800127631A patent/CN101160697B/zh active Active
  • 2006-03-13 JP JP2008501946A patent/JP4688113B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-03-13 WO PCT/US2006/009039 patent/WO2006101816A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-03-13 TW TW095108411A patent/TWI352465B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-03-13 ES ES06738133.5T patent/ES2359156T5/es active Active
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